Even the Cowboys could not keep ratings afloat for a lackluster edition of Sunday Night Football.
The Week 3 Bears/Cowboys Sunday Night Football game earned an 11.7 final rating and 20.6 million viewers on NBC, down 11% in ratings and 7% in viewership from Broncos/Lions last year (13.1, 22.1M) and down 2% but up 4%, respectively, from Steelers/Panthers in 2014 (11.9, 19.8M).
The Cowboys’ win ranks as the team’s lowest rated SNF appearance since a loss to the Packers in 2010 (11.6) and their least-watched since a win over the Eagles in 2012 (20.4M). In addition the 11.7 rating is the lowest for SNF in Week 3 of the season since Jets/Dolphins in 2010 (11.3).
Despite hitting a multi-year ratings low, Sunday’s game was the second straight on NBC to avoid hitting a low in viewership.
Figures do not include the 125,000 who watched on NBC and NFL streaming platforms. With those viewers included, the game had 20.7 million.
Through Week 3, NBC has averaged 23.0 million viewers for NFL coverage — down 10% from 25.6 million last year, which was the network’s highest average at this point of the season since reacquiring NFL rights, but down just 1% from its average over the previous six seasons (23.1M). With streaming viewership included, NBC has averaged 23.2 million.
(Sun. numbers from NBC Sports)
